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Buon Appetito since 1981
Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana is one of Houston’s top Italian restaurants with a focus on creative yet approachable fare. Known for the delicious food mixing traditional and contemporary cooking techniques, we only use top-quality ingredients – some flown in weekly from Italy!

About Carmelo’s

The food

We’re serving fresh, rustic Italian-American food with a contemporary twist – all made from scratch daily. The menus feature a wide selection of traditional and nontraditional meat, seafood and pasta dishes with vegetarian and gluten-free options. We make everything in house, even pastas and sauces, using only the highest-quality, Italian products paired with the best local ingredients we can find.

Carmelo’s has a full bar featuring a selection of domestic and international beers and liquors, along with an extensive, approachable wine collection featuring unique Italian wines.

The people

Daniel Berg

Daniel Berg, executive chef and partner of Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana, has extensive culinary training in Italian and French cuisine and an impressive career working for high-profile chefs and restaurants in Italy, Miami and his hometown New York City.

After graduating from Tulane University in 2004, Berg accepted a public relations position representing small financial firms where he soon realized his dislike for the typical desk job and a desire for more creativity. Inspired by former summer jobs working in kitchens, Berg enrolled in the French Culinary Institute in New York and shortly after began an internship at A Voce under the direction of famed American chefand restaurateur, Andrew Carmellini.

His next move was to Alma La Scuola di Cucina in Colorno, Italy , an internationally recognized culinary institute training in the art of Italian cooking, restaurant professionalism and management. During his time abroad, he worked for Ristorante Gualtiero Marchesi, a three Michelin star establishment in Milan, and Principe Cerami, a two Michelin star establishment in Sicily. Upon returning to the U.S., Berg returned to at A Voce for a year before reconnecting with Carmellini who hired him to help open his next three concepts including Locanda Verde, The Dutch and Bar Primi. Berg also honed his French culinary skills as the tournant at Le Bernardin and Daniel, both three Michelin star and New York Times four-star rated establishments.

Prior to moving to Houston, Berg was the executive chef and partner of Yves, a Tribeca bistro where he designed and executed the entire menu and business planning. His reputation for creating consistently delicious and innovative dishes, and his dedication to using only the highest-quality ingredients, will continue to delight a loyal clientele.

Joe Malheiro

As general manager of Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana, Joe Malheiro brings years of restaurant experience and a true passion for hospitality to his role. Born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, his parents owned a seafood restaurant by the coast where he began helping in the kitchen at just seven years old.

After moving to New York City at the age of 16, Malheiro got his first taste of formal service working for an upscale Italian restaurant. The staff could not pronounce his last name, which quickly earned him the eternal, loving nickname “Joey Parmigiana” or “Joey Parm.” Shortly after, he was recruited to be a server for The Palm Restaurant in 1978 where he worked his way to general manager, playing a vital role in the restaurant’s expansion in Houston, San Francisco and Beverley Hills. In 1997, he returned to Houston where he spent the majority of his 37 years with the company.

Before joining the Carmelo’s team, Malheiro did a short stint at Smith & Wollensky where he first met Benjamin Berg, founder of Berg Hospitality Group. Two years later, Malheiro came out of retirement to work for two years at Berg’s first concept, B&B Butchers & Restaurant. He loves being a part of Berg’s team for his unique and innovative ideas and intense focus on quality and hospitality.

Benjamin Berg

In June 2015, Benjamin Berg opened his first concept, B&B Butchers & Restaurant, an upscale steakhouse and traditional butcher shop on Washington Avenue, to rave reviews from critics, celebrities and Houstonians. In January 2018, he opened a second location of B&B Butchers & Restaurant in The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth, Texas.

Born in New York City, Berg has been in the restaurant business for over 17 years working for upscale steakhouses in key markets including Las Vegas, Mexico City and his hometown. He began his career as an in-house butcher with a proud family heritage rooted in the restaurant business. His great-grandfather was a kosher butcher in Chicago, his grandfather owned the iconic Orange Julius juice stand in Los Angeles and his brother is a chef at a well-known New York City eatery.

Prior to his career in restaurants, Berg worked for The Point, a luxury hotel company voted the #1 small hotel in the country at the time. He began as a bellman and worked his way up, learning every detail of the different facets of the hospitality business. He brings this same, service-oriented mindset to his restaurants. Berg received a Masters of Hospitality Management from Cornell University and a B.A. in Art History from Tulane University.

Private dining

Located just minutes from Houston’s Energy Corridor, Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana hosts private events for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for an intimate dining room for a small group or a beautiful location for a large party, we can provide one of ourprivate rooms, which can seat from 10 up to 140 guests. Let us tend to your entertaining needs with award-winning cuisine by Executive Chef Daniel Berg paired with first-class service and an inviting atmosphere. Our private dining director is at your disposal whether you are hosting a business breakfast, luncheon, dinner, wine tasting, cocktail reception, rehearsal dinner or wedding. We look forward to taking personal care of your custom-printed menus, specially tailored wine pairings, floral decoration, musical entertainment and more.

Catering

We offer an off-premise catering service to your location in Houston for groups and parties of 10-500 guests. We offer delivery, set up and service, and our professional staff will leave your home or office as they found it.

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